The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-11
JOHN G. CALHOUN.
Grafton of Hon. L. @. c. Lamar,
AT THE UNVEILING ON THE STATUE
ERECTED BY THE Ladies, IN CHAR
LESION, TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1887.
CONCLUDED.


How he performed the duties of his
position as Secretary of War can be
also better determined in the same way.
Henry CLAY said of him: "Such was the
high estimate formed of his transc en-
dant talents that if, at the end of his
service in the executive department
under Mr.. MOnroe's Administration, he
had been called to the highest Office of
the Government, ] should have felt
perfectly assured that under his auspices
the honor and prosperity and the glory
of our country would have been safely
placed"
John Quincy Adams, who was his
colleague in Monroe's Cabinet, thus
spoke of him because his judgment was
cl0uded by personal resentment: "Cal-
houu thinks for himself, independent of
all the rest, with sound judgment, quick
discrimination and keen observation.
He supports his opinions, too, with
powerful eloquence." MIR.
Calhoun is a man of fair and candid
mind, of honorable principles, of clear
and quick understanding, of cool self
possession, of enlarged philosophical
views and Of ardent patriotism. He is
above all sectional and factionaL PreudiceS
more than any other statesman Of this Union
1Uith Whom / hare eUer acted. IL. q.
Adams Diary.
CALHoUNs DEVOTION TO THE UNION.
Judge Story said of him in letter to
a friend: 81 have great admiration for
Mr.. Calhoun, and think few men have
more enlarged and liberal views of the
nation" Mr.. Webster at the same time
wrote to his brother: 81 hope all New
England will support Mr.. Calhoun for
the Vice-P Presidency. He is true man
and will do good to the country in that
situation" He was elected to the Vice
Presidency, and New England, with the
one vote from New Hampshire, united
in the overwhelming majority that
carried him to the Vice-Presidential
chair.
Approaching the early course of Mr.
Calhoun on the subject of protection
internal improvements, and national
bank, Mr.. Lamar made an analysis
which the limited space of this report
requires us to condehse more than we
like. He explained that at that perioo
aprotective tariff, internal improvements
and q nstional bank were measures tha
virtually originated in the war; tina
they were not questions of interna
policy, but related exclusively to the
national security, in consequence OF the
state of our external relations. Regard
ing them as means of national defense
against dangers from abroad with whlcf
We were imminently threatened, Mr.
Calhoun did not look for the coustltu
tional authority to adopt them in the
enumerated and described powers o
Congress, but he deduced it from the
plenary power which pertained to tn
Government as the sole sovereignty o
the Republic in its relations with othel
nations. In proof of his view, tn
speaker cited many passages from MI
Calhoun's speeches made at that period
Pardon the depression, said MIR. Lamar
but desire here to state that througl
all these speeches there breathed tn
strongest sentiment of devotion to tn
Union. In the speech from which
have already quoted he said that, In nj
opinion, the liberty and the union
this country were inseparably united
that, as the destruction of the latte
would most certainly involve the fol
mer, so its maintenance will, with equa
certainty preserve it. He did not spea
lightly. lie had often and long revolve
it in his mind, and he had CRITICAL
examined into the causes that destroye'
the liberty of other States. There ar
none that apply to us, or apply with
force to alarm. The basis of our Reput
lie is too broad to be shaken by them
Its extension and organization will
found to afford effectual security agains
their operation; but let it be deeply I'M
pressed upon the heart OF this Hous
and this country that, while the
guarded against the old, they expose
us to a new and terrible danger-D
union. This single word comprehende
almost the sum Of our political dangeri
and against it we ought to be perfecti
guarded.
The very last speech that he delivere
in the House of Representative W,
like that which at the end OF his lie !
delivered in the United States Senat
1t was plea for the Union.
HIS VIEWS OF A Protective TARIF
Sixteen years later, when he entert
the United States Senate, the aspect
the questions of the protective tari1 "a
entirely changed. The United stat
had grown to be a great and powerf
republic, able to laugh to scorn q
thought of danger from any power
earth.
The measures that had been resort
to as means of national defense again
foreign digressions, had grown to COLI
sal systems, drawing wealth and pow
from federal taxation and destroyll
the agricultural interests. Centraiiz
tion doctrines began to prevail
1t is not my purpose to discuss ne
the question Of protective tariff. q
sire to efface myrelf on this occasle
My only aspiration is to present 70 y.
the moral and intellectual imal . OF hl
whose outer form aud lineaments :
presented in the admirable statue VIM
We this day unvail.
In one Of his great speeches ne Sal
that the station Gf Vice President, IN
Its leisure, had given him the opporl
nifty to study the genius Of the proe
tive system - measure OF permAne:
domestic policy; that he saw - blast.
efecfn an onS rooff0n IT CoIxupC1